Los Angeles International Beer Competition Announces Winners

With nearly 100 different categories, and hundreds of entries, the 2017 Los Angeles International Beer Competition (hereafter, LAIBC) recently named its top medalists. Operated by the Los Angeles County Fair Association, the competition guarantees greater exposure for the winning entries, offering consumers access to some of the world's finest brews. Celebrating its 17th year, the event rivals other contests with an esteemed judging panel, an exciting tasting event held in the summer, and a comprehensive public education program during the LA County Fair.

Taking best in show was Bartlett Brewing (Bartlett Hall)’s Barrel Aged Imperial Dark Bullitt, which also won the gold medal in the Wood-and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout category. This was not the only gold medal that Bartlett Brewing (Bartlet Hall) won, winning golds in Barley Wine Style Ale for Mash Town Road Barleywine and Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest for The Wurm Dortmund Export Lager.

The competition was open to any licensed brewery or brewpub. All beers entered must be available for sale to the general public. The LAIBC provides award winners with additional marketing opportunities, including the ability to purchase additional beer medals identifying bottles as medal winners and the opportunity to sell award-winning beer in the Award-Winning Beer Tavern, during the LA County Fair, which has received over a million attendees in previous years.

The LAIBC has grown over the last few years in no small part due to the involvement of its current chairman, Jason Torres, who has shepherded it from around 600 entries to more than doubling it to its current number of nearly 1300 entries. "The large growth of the craft beer industry over the last few years is exciting," said Torres. "What makes it unique is that a lot of these breweries are owned and operated by family and friends. It has also been great to showcase many of these award-winning beers at the LA County Fair."

Craft beer fans can try some of these winning brews at the well-attended LA County Fair this fall. Craft beer locations with a select few of the winners will be open to the public at the LA County Fair, September 1-24, 2017.

For a complete listing of all of the medalists and their categories, one can check out the LACounty Fair’s website. Below, one can find a list of all of the beers winning gold medals at the 2017 LAIBC (in alphabetical order, according to style):

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